Storyteller mushroom man

Tradd Cotter of Liberty grows a variety of mushrooms at his Mushroom Mountain business. Cotter, a microbiology student at Clemson University is getting ready to write a book between studies and speaking engagements.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty holds a sign marking King Stropharia mushrooms growing in a microforestry part of his Mushroom Mountain business. Cotter said the mushrooms get as big as the artist rendering on the sign. Mushrooms grow as fast as three weeks to as long as ten months.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty holds a Oyster mushroom in the greenhouse of his Mushroom Mountain business.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty looks at a boiling pot with shredded wheat straw. Cotter pasteurizes the media, part of the process of growing mushrooms at his Mushroom Mountain business. Cotter, a microbiology student at Clemson University is getting ready to write a book between studies and speaking engagements.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty holds a shiitake at his Mushroom Mountain business in Liberty, S.C. A Clemson University microbiology student stays busy with school and the business, which he first learned about when he lived in Charleston.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty shows an example of a filtering system in a greenhouse at his Mushroom Mountain business. The Clemson University microbiology student said the process on a larger scale would be helpful to the environment.

Tradd Cotter of Liberty looks over composting hay with worms at his Mushroom Mountain business.